Attachment for self-operated hair clippers



April 23, 1957 E. -w. CLARK ATTACHMENT FORSELF-OPERATED HAIR CLIPPERSFiled Feb. 8, 1956 51 .11. FiqEI. 4

34 INVENTUR.

Fiqg.

ATTACHMENT FOR SELF-OPERATED HAIR CLIPPERS Earl W. Clark, Stuart, Fla.

Application February 8, 1956, Serial No. 564,176

Claims. (Cl. 30233.5)

This invention relates to an attachment for an electric hair clipperwhich greatly facilitates the use of an electric clipper in cutting hairon the head.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide an attachmentfor electric hair clippers which will enable practically anyone to do,all by himself, a very good job of cutting his own hair.

Another object is to provide an attachment wherein the clipper may beheld at a fairly wide range of angles relative to the scalp and stillcut the hair on same at substantially a predetermined length.

An additional object is to provide an attachment with component parts soarranged that one can cut and taper the longer hairs on the head,particularly those hairs near the top of the head and also those hairsabove the cars.

A further object is to provide means whereby my attachment may bereadily fitted to an existing clipper or also to a clipper which isespecially designed to receive same.

Other objects will appear further along in this specification.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of an electric clipper with oneform of my attachment in place on same.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation taken on line 3-4) in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of an electric clipper similar toFig. 1, but shows my attachment made up of diiferent materials than thatin Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of an electric clipper and showsone form of my attachment applied to an existing clipper and means forattaching same.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan or top view of the attachment with hinged comb.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. 7, but the comb shown in Fig. 7 isomitted. I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the comb shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10. p

In my drawings, Fig. 1, 2 and 3 show my hair cutting attachment appliedto an electric clipper where the upper half of the clipper housing isadapted to receive my attachment. 1 is the upper and 2 is the lowerportion of the clipper housing, 3 is the reciprocating and 4 is thestationary cutter. 1a is that portion of housing 1 which is modified toreceive my attachment. 1b is a slot in the top surface of 1a which takesscrew 5 which is provided with a knurled nut 6, and this nut and screwclamp my attachment to the clipper. 1c are bosses on 1a and they areprovided to prevent the head 5a of screw 5 from turning and also, inconjunction with plate 7 and screws 8, to form a retainer for screw 5.The combined comb and length-of-cut gauge 9 is adjustable on 1a asindicated by dotted and dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 in order to cut thehair at different lengths. This adjustment provides a means of taperingthe hair cut. 9a are length-of-cut gages on 9 and are located on eachside of cutters 3 and 4, and these gauges 9a are so shaped and solocated that the clipper, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, when gauges 9aare in contact with the scalp, may be tilted downwardly, from thehorizontal position shown, through an angle of more than 30 degreeswithout appreciably changing the length of hair cut for a given settingof the comb and gauge attachment 9 on housing portion 1a. The angle Awhich is shown in Fig. 1 is 30 degrees. The comb 9b is part ofattachment 9 and this comb is tilted upwardly with respect to thelongitudinal length of the clipper housing and is located above and inadvance of the cutting edges of cutters 3 and .4 to lift the hairs fromthe scalp and cause these hairs to fall successively from the comb andinto the cutters as the clipper is advanced over the scalp. 9c arevertical side plates on 9 to act as guides for attachment 9 on housingportion 1a.

In'cutting ones hair one stands in front of and with his back to amirror on a wall. He then either holdsanother mirror in one hand or usesa stand placed in front of him on which are mounted two mirrors spacedabout four inches apart horizontally, and which have the outer edges ofthe two mirrors inclined inwardly toward him at an angle of about thirtydegrees. He thus has both hands free and can see in one mirror more thanhalf the back of his head and all of the side of his face. The

other mirror shows the other side of his head. The mirtors mentioned arewell known and are not shown on the drawing. When the two mirrors areused, the free hand can be used to assist in locating the clippersquarely against the head. I find that it is sometimes an advantage touse the sense of feel as a help in placing the clippers squarely againstthe head at a selected place.

In cutting ones own hair, the length-of-cut gauges 9a are brought closein to the cutting edges of knives 3 and 4 as shown by the full lines inFig. 1, and, starting at the bottom of the scalp hair, one cuts upwardlyabout an inch or as far as one wan-ts his hair very short. One then setsgauges 9a out say A; to /1 inch and cuts up an additional to /2 inch.This operation is repeated, setting the gauges 9a out a little furthereach time, until one reaches the long hairs near the top of the head. Bythis time the gauges 9a should be set out from the cutting edges ofknives 3 and 4 about /2 to inch. The ends of comb 9b should, after thefirst or bottom cut, always be brought into contact with the scalpbefore the clipper is moved upward. Doing this will enable one to get anicely tapered haircut.

When one is cutting the hair near the top of the head and also above theears, in both places the hair normally is long, one finds that thearrangement of the comb 9b as shown in Fig. 1 is of invaluableassistance. This is due to the fact that the ends of comb 9b may leadthe cutting edges of the clipper to 1 inch or more and all but the verylongest hairs will leave the comb 9b and fall into the cutters asthe-clipper is moved upwardly on the scalp.

I have tried locating the comb loosely in front of the cutters as shownin Fig. 5 part 25 and find that the comb when so located will let thevery short hairs pass through the comb and fall into the cutters butwill push the long hairs, that one encounters near the top of the headand above the ears, away from the cutters. To overcome this I firsttried using clippers without a comb but with gauges 9a. I found that Icould then cut the long hairs, but I also found that I could not get atapering cut Without a comb.

The attachment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is designed to be made ofplastic.

My hair cutting attachment shown in Fig. 4 is very similar to that shownin Fig. 1 except that it is made of brass plate and spring brass wiresor other suitable materials and the comb is made so that it maybeadjusted independently of the length-of-cut gauges. This attachment actsin the same manner as the one shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In Fig. 4, isthe upper half ofv the clipper housing and 11 is the lower half to whichstationary cutter 12 is attached. 13 is the reciprocating cutter. 14 arethe two length-ofcut gauges and they are made of spring brass wire orother suitable material and are soldered or fastened to channel shapedbent platelS which rests on 10a which is part of housing 10. The bentdown ends of plate 15 serve to keep my attachment straight on theclipper housing. 16 are the comb wires or teeth .and these wires aresoldered or otherwise fastened to plate 17 which has a slotted hole 17aso that the comb may be adjusted in position independently of gauges 14.18 and 19 are screw and knurled nut the same as in Fig. l and clamp myattachment to the clipper housing 10a in any desired position. Thedotted lines show 16 and 14 in an adjusted position.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a method of mounting my attachment on an existingclipper where no provision has been made for mounting same on theclipper housing. I find that, where I mount my attachment on a vibratormotor type clipper, the mounting must be very rigid, otherwise theattachment will vibrate excessively. The frame 18 is made of brass plateor other suitablematerial and is bent into a box type section. Thebottom portions 18a and 18b contact the bottom of stationary cutter 19,and clamp 29 and screw 21 securely clamp the frame sides 18c and 18d t-ostationary cutter 19. 18 are bent over portions on 18a and 18b to formlips which serve to locate frame 18 properly on the clipper. 18e is thetop of the frame 18 which carries channel shaped plate 23 to whichlcngth-ofcut gauges 24 are fastened. Comb 25 is attach-ed to plate 26which rests on bent plate 23 and plates 23 and 26 are clamped to frame18 at 18c byscrew 28 knurled nut 27. Screw 28 is permanently attached torectangular shaped plate 29 which forms a head for same. 30 is the upperhalf and 31 is the lower half of the clipper housing. 18g is a slottedhole in 18s to permit the in and out adjustment of gauges24 and comb 25.Curved dot and dash lines a and b in Fig. 5 are drawn to show theoutline of the scalp near the top of the head with dotted gauges 24 anddotted comb 25 contacting same. This shows clearly that at this part ofthe head the gauges 24 will maintain the cutters at substantially apredetermined distance from the scalp, while the comb 25 alone will notdo so. Dot and dash lines it and d also show that comb 25 will not keepthe cutters at a predetermined distance from the scalp when the clipperis tilted downwardly from a horizontal position, while the gauges 24will do so.

Figs. 7 and 8 show my attachment with a hinged comb that may be adjustedto different angles to vary thedistance by which the comb leads thecutters. 32 are comb teeth which are attached to hinge plate 33. 34 isthe other part of the hinge. Bent plate 35 is fastened to hinge part 3%and is tapped to take screw 36 which clamps comb 32 in any selectedangular position. 34a is a slot in 34 to permit the comb to be adjustedindependently of channel shaped plate 37 which carries length-of-cutgauges 3S and also guides my attachment on the clipper housing whereprovision has been made for same or on the frame 13 shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows a side view of the channel-shapel plate 37 shown in Fig. 7with the length-of-cut gauges attached,

Figs. 10 and ll show the same comb 25 and comb plate 26 as is shown inFig. 5. 26a is a slotted hole in 26 to ermi't independent adjustment ofthe comb 25 with respect to length-of-cut gauges 24 in Fig. 5.

My attachment described herein has been in actual luse by myself andothers for some time and it has been demonstrated that one can, whenusing my attachment in the manner herein described, cut his own hairunaided by others in a satisfactory manner. I find, further, that. whereone cuts another persons hair, he can with my attachment do the completehair cutting job very readily.

I ciaim as my invention:

1. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to control the length .at which the hairs are cut and a comb actingindependently of said gauge is used to lift the hairs from the scalp inadvance of the cutting edges of said clippers, the combination of, alength-of-cut gauge which contacts said scalp and is positioned withrespect to said cutting edges to bring the line of cut of said cuttingedges within the perimeter of the surface on said gauge which contactssaid scalp when viewed parallel with said line of cut, a comb actingindependently of said gauge and located above said cutters, a supportattached to said clipper for adjustably supporting said gauge on saidclipper, and means for moving the surface on said gauge which contactssaid scalp toward and away from said cutting edges.

2. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to control the length at which the hairs are cut and a comb actingindependently of said gauge is used to lift the hairs from the scalp inadvance of the cutting edges of said clippers, the combination of, alength-of-cut gauge which contacts said scalp and is positioned withrespect to said cutting edges to bring the line of cut of said cuttingedges within the perimeter of the surface on said gauge which contactssaid scalp when viewed parallel with said line of cut, a comb actingindependently of said gauge and located above said cutters, a supportattached to said clipper for adjustably supporting said gauge on saidclipper, and means for moving the surface on said gauge which contactssaid scalp toward and :away from said cutting edges, said comb beinghingedly supported on said clipper and the hinge for said hinged combbeing located above the common plane of the cutting surfaces of saidcutters whereby the ends of the teeth of said comb may be moved by asubstantial amount toward and away from the said cutting edges asmeasured in a direction parallel to said common plane.

3. in an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to maintain the cutting edges of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of the cutting edges during the hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a length-of-cut gauge positioned withrespect to said cutting edges to bring the line of cut of said cuttingedges within the perimeter of the length-of-cut gauging surfaces whenviewed parallel with said line of cut, the said gauging surfaces beingshaped to substantially coincide through a substantial arc with circlesdrawn with the said line of cut as a center within .the normal range ofadjustment of said gauging surfaces, a comb acting independently of saidlen-gth-of-cut gauge and located above said cutters, said lengthcfcutgauge being movablymounted on said clipper for movementin a directionintersecting the common plane of the cutting surfaces ofsaid cutters,wherein the housing of said clipper may, with said length-of-cut gaugingsurfaces contacting said scalp, be tilted through a considerable anglewithout substantially changing the distance of said cutting edges fromsaid scalp.

4. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge is;used to maintain the cutting edges of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined-and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of said cutting edges during the'hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a length-ofcut gauge located adjacent tothe cutters of said clipper,

for adjustably supporting and positioning on same said length-of-cutgauge and for moving said length-of-cut gauge on same toward and awayfrom the common plane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters and saidinclined plane being located in a plane which intersects the said commonplane of said cutters, said comb being hingedly movable independently ofsaid length-of-cut gauge and hingedly mounted on said inclined plane tovary the angular relationship of the plane of said comb with saidinclined plane and to move the ends of the teeth of said comb toward andaway from the cutting edges of said cutters by a substantial amount asmeasured in a direction parallel to the said common plane of saidcutters.

5. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to maintain the cutting edges of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of said cutting edges during the hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a length-of-cut gauge positioned withrespect to said cutting edges to bring the line of cut of said cuttingedges within the perimeter of the length-of-cut gauging surfaces whenviewed parallel with said line of cut, a comb acting independently ofsaid length-of-cut gauge and located above said cutters, an inclinedplane on said clipper located above said cutters for adjustablysupporting and positioning on same said length-of-cut gauge and formoving said length-of-cut gauging surfaces on same toward and away fromthe common plane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters and saidinclined plane being located in a plane which intersects the said commonplane of said cutters.

6. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused for a given setting of same to maintain the cutting edges of saidclippers at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head during the hair cutting operation, the combinationof, a length-of-cut gauge positioned with respect to said cutting edgesto bring the line of cut of said cutting edges within the perimeter ofthe length-of-cut gauging surfaces when viewed parallel with said lineof cut, an inclined plane on said clipper located above said cutters foradjustably supporting and positioning on same said length-of-cut gaugeand for moving said length-ofcut gauge on same toward and away from thecommon plane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters and said inclinedplane being located in a plane which intersects the said common plane ofsaid cutters, and said gauging surfaces being shaped to reasonablycoincide through a substantial arc with circles drawn with said line ofcut as a center within the normal range of adjustment of saidlength-of-cut gauge, wherein the housing of said clipper may, with saidgauging surfaces contacting said scalp, be tilted through a considerableangle without appreciably changing the distance of said cutting edgesfrom said scalp.

7. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to maintain the cutting edge of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of said cutting edges during the hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a length-ofcutt gauge positioned withrespect to said cutting edges to bring the line of cut of said cuttingedges within the perimeter of the length-of-cut gauging surfaces whenviewed parallel with said line of cut, a :comb acting independently ofsaid length-of-cut gauge and located above said cutters, an inclinedplane on said clippers located above said cutters for adjustablysupporting and positioning on same said length-oflcut gauge and formoving said lengtho f-cut gauge on same toward and away from the commonplane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters, and said inclined planebeing located in a plane which intersects the said common plane of saidcutters, and said gauging surfaces being shaped to reasonably coincidethrough a substantial arc with circles drawn with said line of cut as acenter within the normal range of adjustment of said length-of-cutgauge, wherein the housing of said clipper may, with said gaugingsurfaces contacting said scalp, be tilted through a considerable anglewithout appreciably changing the distance of said cutting edges fromsaid scalp.

8. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a comb is used to lift thehairs from the scalp in advance of the cutting edges of said clippersduring the cutting operation, the combination of, a comb located abovethe cutters of said clippers, a hinge mounted on said clipper and saidhinge being located above the common plane of the cutting surfaces ofsaid clipper and said hinge being attached to said comb whereby the endsof the teeth of said comb may be moved by a substantial amount towardand away from the said cutting edges as measured in a direction parallelwith the common plane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters.

9. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to maintain the cutting edges of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of said cutting edges during the hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a lengthof-cut gauge located adjacent tothe cutters of said clipper, a comb acting independently of said lengthof cut gauge and located above the cutters of said clipper, an inclinedplane on said clipper located above said cutters for adjustablysupporting and positioning on same said lengthof-cut gauge and formoving said length-of-cut gauge on same toward and away from the commonplane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters and said inclined planebeing located in a plane which intersects the said common plane of saidcutters, the ends of the teeth of said comb being spaced away from saidcutting edges whereby the ends of the teeth of said comb lead the saidcutting edges by a substantial amount as measured in a directionparallel to said common plane.

10. In an attachment for hair clippers wherein a lengthof-cut gauge isused to maintain the cutting edges of said clippers for a given settingof same at substantially a predetermined and adjustable distance fromthe scalp of the head and wherein a comb is used to lift the hairs fromthe scalp in advance of said cutting edges during the hair cuttingoperation, the combination of, a length-ofcut gauge on each side of saidcutters, a comb acting independently of said length-of-cut gauge andlocated above said cutters, an inclined surface located on the housingof said clipper and above said cutters and said inclined surface beinglocated in a plane which intersects the common plane of the cuttingsurfaces of said cutters, said attachment including a channel shapedmember shaped to fit on said inclined surface and the flanges of saidchannel shaped member extending forwardly to ward and on each side ofsaid cutters and having the forward ends of said flanges shaped toencircle within their perimeter the said cutting edges when viewed in adirection parallel to their line of cut to form the gauging surfaces ofsaid length-of-cut gauge, said length-of-cut gauge and said comb beingmounted on said inclined surface for movement toward and away from thecommon plane of the cutting surfaces of said cutters.

No references cited.

